Apparatus for producing a tufted design



J. K. M CUTCHEN July 6, 1954 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN i5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 INVENTOR. I.K. ML'ELI- fch Er! ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. KIM CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. MCCUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec l, 1950 TTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. MCCUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A 'I UFTED DESIGN Filed Dec. 1, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 r 09 MN INVENTOR JK. Mtfufthen ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. M CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 QNiP INVENTOR .JK. MEL Ll. fL-hErl ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. KQM5CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 IN VENTOR J.K. Mrfufrherl BY @W ATTORNEY y 1954 J. K. M CUTCHEN 2,682,841

/ APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN Filed Dec. 1, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet a IN VENTOR ATTORNEY Fl a8;

July 6, 1954 .1. K. M CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN Filed Dec. 1, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 mm mm ATTORNEY J. K. M CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN July 6, 1954 15 Sheets-Sheet 1C Filed Dec. 1, 1950 ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. MQCU'I 'CHEN 2,682,841

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED. DESIGN Filed Dec. 1, 1950 v 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 20 I v FIG. ll.

INVENTOR. .JK. ML'ELI fchErl July 6, 1954 J. K. M CUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 .v Fl 6. l3.

[26 II II II 0, I58 42 145 I48 135 v INVENTOR .JK. MEL Ll fchEn ATTORNEY y 1954 .J. K. MCCUTCHEN 2,682,841

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGA TUFTED DESIGN Filed Dec. 1, 1950 15'Shee'ts-Sheet l3 ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. MCCUTCHEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN i5 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 me 2: m2 2: 4% 2.

IINVENTOR" .J. K. ML'CUIThETT BY V5 WW ill! min ,i t E ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 J. K. M CUTCHEN 2,682,841

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN I Filed Dec. 1, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIG. 22.

FIG.

IN VENTOR .J K. Mrfu frhen ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TUFTED DESIGN The present invention relates to an apparatus 9 Claims. (01. 112-79) for sewing line or lines of severed or unsevered tufting into a fabric base for producing a design.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned character ,which' will produce the severed or unsevered tufted design rapidly and cheaply.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned character which will accurately produce the designs of the desired shape and size. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned character, which is adjustable to vary the shape of the design.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts-throughout same,

" Figure 1 is a front side elevation of the machine embodying the invention, the rightlhalf 'of the machine being broken away, r

Figure 2 is a similar view of the right halfof the machine, the left half-being brolienfawayf figure 2a is an enlarged centralflongitudinal section through f abearing and associated element's, V i I I n Figure Zb is a' transverse section takenpn'line 2b -2b of Figure 2a} 'Figure 3 is an enlarged front Bavarian of the "ma end portion-of themac'hin'e, the remainder "of the machine being'broken awayf Figurea similar view of the right endea Figure 5fisa left end elevation of the machine, as viewed from Figure 11,"

m e h wn in Fi Figure 6a is a side-elevation of driving means, Figure 7 is a right end elevation of the machine as shown in Figure 2, y

Figure 8 is a plan view of the right end of the V Figure 6 is a plan view of the left end of the machine as shown in Figure '1,

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe :two center tufting machines shown in Figures 1 and 2, parts of the apparatus being shown in section, parts broken away'and parts omitted,

Figure 9a'is a side elevation of a horizontal needle carrying bar,

"Figure 12is-a vertical-section takenpn line l2"| 2 of Figure 11,parts'in elevation,

"Figure 13 is-a horizontal '-sectiontaken on line I3l'3':of Figure 5;"

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line 14-44 of Figure 13, parts in elevation,

Figure 15 is a plan view of the left half of the machine, the right half being broken away, and parts omitted,

Figure 16 is a plan view of the right half of the machine, the left half being broken away and parts omitted,

Figure 17 is a longitudinal vertical section through the left half of the machine and through the forward supporting unit, taken on line 11-! I of Figure 10, parts omitted,

Figure 18 is a similar view through the right half of the machine taken on the same section line,

Figure 19 is aplan view of a latch device for holding the shifting lever in place,

Figure 20 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 21 is a vertical section taken on line 2l-2l of Figure 19, I

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view of the rear bed and associated elements, showing the same in the starting position,

Figure 23 is a similar view of the front bed and associated elements,

Figure 24 is a plan view of the fabric base and the lines of tufting sewed therein to produce the design,

Figure 25 is a fragmentary plan view of the fabric base showing a modified form of lines of tufting sewed therein for producing the design, Figure 26 is a fragmentary plan view of the fabric base showing a modified design,

Figure 2'7 is 'a similar view showing a modified design,

Figure 28 is a similar view showing a modified design.

In the drawings, a supporting structure is shown including an upper horizontal frame 20,

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and '7, which may be formed of channel irons having an I-beam' 2| extending longitudinally thereof at the transverse center of the frame, Figures 6, 10 and 15. The numeral 22 designates a, lower horizontal frame, Figures 5 and 10, which may be formed of channel irons having an I-beam 23 rigidly secured thereto at the transverse center of the lowerframe. These upper and lower horizontal frames are similar. The frames 20 and 22 are rigidly secured to end legs 24. The numeral 25 designates center legs, Figures 1 and 2, which are secured to the lower frame 22 and terminate at the elevation of the lower frame.

Mounted upon the upper horizontal frame 20 of the supporting structure, are two reciprocatory supporting units which are substantially identical. These supporting units include a forward bed 26 and a rear bed 21, Figures 1, 2 6, 9, 10, 15, 16, 1'7 and 18, 22 and 23. These beds extend throughout the major portion of the channel iron 22 and I-beam 23.

the horizontal extensions ii and 42.

length of the frame 2% and have their ends suitably spaced from the ends of the frame 2!) to permit of the reciprocation of the beds, Figures 15 and 16. Rigidly secured to the tops of the beds 25 and 2'? are plates 23, Figure it, which travel over longitudinal guides 2t, rigidly secured to the top of the frame 28 and the I-bearn 2!. Ball bearings (iii may be arranged between the plates 28 and guides 29. Arranged beneath the bed 25 are tufting units 3!, which are identical. Each unit 3| includes an arm 3!, Figure 9, having a head 32 and a stock 33, which is rigidly secured to the bed 26. These parts are conventional except that they are inverted. The arm 3| carries the usual drive shaft 34, which reciprocates the needle bar 35, through the driving connection 35. Each needle bar extends below the head 32 and carries a plate 35, having a pair of needles secured thereto and depending therefrom. The tufting or sewing machine units thus described are arranged in a group extending longitudinally of the bed 26 and the tufting units in each group are spaced longitudinally of the bed and the unit shifts bodily with the bed. Tufting units 38 are mounted upon the bed 2? and depend therefrom and these tufting units 33 are identical with the tufting units 3| and their group arrangement is identical. Four tufting units 3! are shown in the front group and four tufting units 38 in the rear group.

The numerals 28 and 27 designate lower beds, Figures 10, 1'7 and 18. The lower bed 26* is arranged beneath and in alignment with the upper bed 25 and is secured thereto by vertical arms 39 and diagonal braces' lfi. Vertical arms 39 have upper and lower horizontal extensions 4| which are rigidly secured to the beds 28 and 2% by bolts or the like. It is thus seen that the upper and lower beds 25 and 26 and their connections constitute a reciprocatory supporting unit. Thebed 2G has strips Zfi'rigidly secured thereto, operating in guides 21, secured to the The lower bed is therefore guided in its movement and the weight of the lowerbed may be carried by the upper bed 25. The lower bed 21 is arranged beneath and in alignment with the upper bed 2". and is rigidly secured thereto by the same vertical arms 39 and diagonal braces having The beds 2'! and Zi constitute a reciprocatory supporting unit. The bed it is equipped with the same plates 28' operating within the guide means 2i",

rigidly secured to the angle iron 22 and I-beam 23. The lower bed 2% may have its weight supported by the upper bed 2?.

Extending between the pair of vertical arms 39 in each supporting unit is a horizontal presser foot 43, Figures 1, 2, 3, a and 10, which are rigidly attached to each pair of arms to move therewith. This presser foot may be in the form of an angle iron having a horizontal web' it provided with suitable apertures ii: for the passage of the needles. spaced above the base plate 45, for the passage beneath the same of the fabric base. This base plate is used with the ordinary feed dogs which have been removed. These base plates have openings ti leading into openings 43 formed in the beds 25 and 2?, Figure 19.

Disposed rearwardly of each presser foot $3 is a a horizontal guide roller rotatably mounted upon brackets or arms i t, in turn mounted upon stationary plates it, Figure 10. Each roller 33 The presser foot is arranged near and,

is mounted upon the stationary lower frame 22 and does not reciprocate with the presser foot 43, and the roller 43' is longer than the presser foot 33, Figures '1, 2, 3, '4'and 10.

Arranged beneath the beds 2i; and 27 are horizontal rock shafts 49, Figures 9 and 10, journaled in bearings 58, rigidly secured to the beds 26 and 21 and depending therefrom. Each rock shaft 49 carries pairs of loopers 5! for eoaction with the pairs of needles 3'!. Each rock shaft 49 has pairs of blocks 5| clamped thereon and the loopers 5| are secured to these blocks. These loopers have bills or hooks 53 which face in-an opposite direction to the travel of the work, as is customary in tufting machines. Arranged near each pair of loopers 5! is :a rock shaft journaled in stationary bearings -55, carried by the beds 25 and 21 Each rock shaft 5 3 has a block 56 rigidly secured thereto, and this block has a pair of blades 51 mounted thereon. These blades are arranged to sever the loops formed upon the loopers 5| and leave at least one loop unsevered upon each lower, as is customary in the operation of tufting machines. Each rock shaft 49 has a crank 58 rigidly secured thereto, pivotally connected with a-linkiil, in turn pivotally connected with a crank 80, which is rigidly secured to the rock shaft 54 to turn it. This is the conventional looper and cutter mechanism present in the conventional sewing machine. When the needles descend, thebillsof the loopers enter the loops produced by the-needles beneath the fabric, and when the needles rise, the loopers with the loops thereon -move forwardly from the path of travel of the needles and the loops upon the loopers are severed, leaving at least one unsevered loop upon the looper.

Disposed upon the front side of the machine,

Figures '1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10, are fabric feed rollers BI and 62, arranged in superposed relation. The fabric base, Figures 7 and 10, passes forwardly over the upper feed roller 6| and between the upper and lower-feed rollers and then rearwardly of the lowerfeed roller. These-feed rollers are mounted upon shafts 63 and 64, to rotate therewith, and these shafts are journaled in fixed bearings 65. At the ends of the shafts t3 and 64, are'gears B6 and 6?, rigidly mounted thereon, and these gears are in permanent mesh so that the rollers 61 and GZ-turn in opposite directions to feed the fabric forwardly. The upper shaft 63 has an intermittently operated device to turn it, Figure-7, including a head 68 pivoted upon the shaft 63, and connected or locked with the shaft by a roller 68'- operating in a curved tapered slot 69, decreasing in size rearwardly. The head 68 is turned by'a lever or crank 69. When the lever '69 is swung forwardly, the roller 68 moves into the contracted end of the slot 69 and the'head is locked to the shaft'fit, so that the head 68 may turn the shaft 63, but when the head 68 moves rearwardly or clockwise, Figure '7,

thehead will turn with respect to theshaft 63.

Arranged near the right end of the machine, at the rear of the same, Figures 7 and 8, is a horizontal drive shaft 10, -journaled-in stationary bearings H, bolted to a fixed top 12, secured to-the upper frame 20. The shaft it extends outwardly beyond the bearing H and is power-driven by a motor or the like. The shaft if) has a sprocket wheel 13, Figure 8, rigidly secured thereto, driving a sprocket chain I4, extending forwardly of themachine and engaging a sprocket wheel 15, which is splined upon a horizontal shaft 16. This shaft has a portion journaled in upstanding bearings 11 which are rigidly mounted upon the base 26 through-the medium of angle irons I8 or the-like rigidly attached to the base. This shaft, Figures 1 and 2, has a reduced portion I9, journaled in bearings 80, suitably mounted upon the bed '26. The shaft I6 rotates and moves longitudinally with the bed 26. The sprocket wheel I5 which is splined upon the shaft I6 is held against longitudinal movement by operating within an opening 8| formed in a stationary inverted U-shaped bracket 82 which is mounted upon the stationary frame 20,- Figure 8. It is thus seen that the sprocket wheel I5 drives the shaft I6 and permits of the longitudinal movement of the shaft 16. A second sprocket wheel 83, Figure 8, corresponding to the sprocket wheel I3, is rigidly mounted upon the shaft and drives a sprocket chain 84, extending forwardly to engage a sprocket wheel 85, Figures 7 and 8, splined upon a rear longitudinal shaft 88, corresponding to the shaft I6. The sprocket wheel 85 is held against longitudinal movement by operating within an opening 81 formed in a stationary inverted U-shaped bracket 88, rigidly mounted upon the frame 20. The sprocket wheel 85 therefore rotates the shaft 86 and permits the same to move longitudinally. The shaft 86 is identical with the shaft I5 and is mounted in bearings 89, mounted upon angle irons 90, rigidly secured to the bed 21. This construction is identical with the construction embodying the angle irons 18. The shaft 86 has a reduced portion 9I,,Figures l5 and 16, mounted in bearings 92, rigidly secured to the bed TI and corresponding to the bearings 8'0. the shaft I6 has sprocket wheels 93 rigidly mounted thereon, Figure 10, driving depending sprocket chains 94, engaging sprocket wheels 95, Figure 9, which drive the shafts 34 of the front set of tufting machine units 3|. The reduced portion 9| of the shaft 86, Figures 10, and 16, have sprocket wheels 96 rigidly mounted thereon, driving depending sprocket chains '91, driving sprocket wheels 98 secured 'to. the shafts 34 of the rear set of tufting machine units 3I'. It is thus seen that the shafts 34 of all tufting machine units are driven in the same direction and at the same speed. I I

In view of the description heretofore given,

itis seen that the machine embodies front and rear supporting units, which are reciprocated in .a direction transversely of and at right angles to the line of feed of thebase fabric, by means to be described. The fabric is fed longitudinally in a forward direction by means of the feed roll- "ers BI and 62.

The reduced portion 19 of of feed of the fabric base, and this spacing may determine the size and shape of the design to be produced. It is contemplated to vary the spacing of the tufting mechanisms longitudinally of the line of feed of the fabric base. As more clearly shown in Figure 9, each needle bar is equipped with ashort horizontal needle carrying bar 36. The tufting machines in each group are driven at the same speed, and by having the separate horizontal needle carrying bars 36, it has been found that the tufting machines can be driven at a higher speed. However, it is contemplated to substitute a single horizontal bar 36', for the separate bars 36, and rigidly mount the bar 36 upon the vertical reciprocatory needle bars 35. The common bar 36 will have vertical openings 31' formed therein throughout its entire length and these openings will be spaced and will permit of a large range of adjustment of the needles to vary the design. The single horizontal needle carrying bar will also insure that the vertical reciprocatory bars 3'5 will be synchronized in operation.

As more clearly shown in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 8, the numeral 99 designates an eccentric which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft I0 and this eccentric is engaged by an eccentric strap I00 carried by a connecting rod IOI, extending downwardly for pivotal connection at I02 with a bell crank lever I03. The shafts 49 are journaled in the bearings 50, Figures 9 and 10, 1'7 and 18, and the right ends of the shafts 49 are formed square in cross-section, Figure 18, and these square ends are slidably mounted within bearing sleeves II04, rotatable within bearing blocks I05, rigidl secured to the right end of the lower frame 22. Mounted upon the forward shaft 49, Figures '7, l0 and 18, is a crank I06 having an opening I01 formed square in cross-section to slidably receive the square end portion of the shaft 49. It is thus seen that the shaft 49 may be shifted longitudinally and turned by the swinging movement of the crank I06. The lower end of the crank I00 is pivotally connected at I03 with the horizontal link I09, pivotally connected at III) with the bell crank lever \I03. This bell crank lever has a square opening formed therein to receive the square end portion of the rear shaft 49, which slides therein. The same bearing sleeve I04 and bearing block I05 are employed for the rear shaft 49 and fixed plates II2 are employed to prevent the longitudinal movement of the crank I06 and the bell crank lever I03 in one direction. From the foregoing description, it is thus seen that the rotation of the shaft I0, Figure '7, reciprocates the connecting rod IOI which in turn rocks the two shafts 49, having slidable engagement with the cranks which turn them.

The connecting rod IOI has a pin III3 which is rigidly secured thereto and this pin operates within an elongated slot I I4 formed in a horizontal arm of a vertically swinging bell crank lever II5, mounted upon a fixed pivot H6. This bell crank lever is pivotally connected at I I I, with a link I I8, extending forwardly for connection with the lever 69. To effect this connection, the link I I8 carries a bolt H9, pivotally connected with such link, and this bolt is adjustable longitudinally within an elongated slot I20 formed in the lever 69, and may be locked in this slot at the selected adjusted position. By vertically adjusting the bolt II 9, the throw of the lever 69 by the action of the link IIB may be regulated. The reciprocation of the connecting rod I 0| is transmitted to the lever 69, which in turn effects an intermittent turning movement of the feed rollers EII and S2, to advance the fabric forwardly.

The loopers SI, blades5l, needle 'bars 35 and feed rollers SI and 52 are timed in operation.

When the needle bars descend and the needles 3! pass through the fabric, the loopers move toward the needles and enter the loops. The lever 69 is now swinging rearwardly, Figure 7, and the feed rollers BI are station-ary. While the needles are penetrating the fabric; the feed rollers 61 and 62 are stationary, as stated, and when the needle bars 35 move upwardly, the loopers 51' move from the needles and the blades '1 travel with the loopers and upwardly with relation thereto and sever the loops upon the loopers, leaving, at least one unsevered loop upon each looper. When the needle bars move upwardly, the link I18 is moving forwardly and the lever 59 is swung forwardly. There is sufficient lost motion between the intermittent clutch device operated by the lever 65 and the shaft 63, so that the lever '55 in its forward movement will not turn the shaft until the needles 3"! move upwardly sufiiciently to clear the fabric, and when the needles pass above the fabric, the continued forward movement of lever 65 advances the feed rollers 61 and $2 a step, to feed the fabric step, which determines the distance between the sides of the loops being sewed into the fabric. When the needles are moving downwardly, the rollers 61 and 52 remain stationary.

It is thus seen that tuf ting machines or tufting mechanisms are provided, and arranged in forward and rear groups, and shif table transversely of the direction of feed of the fabric effected by the rollers 61 and 62. These feed rollers are common to all tufting machines or tufting mechanisms and the usual feed dogs are dispensed with. While the tufting machines or tufting mechanisms are shown equipped with blades to sever the loops, it is to be understood that the blades may be omitted, and the tufting machines or tufting mechanisms employed to sew lines of unsevered tufting. When this is desired, the loopers are adjusted to face in the direction of travel of the work, as is well known in the tufting art. The terms of tufting machine or tuiting mechanism are used in the description and claims to cover machines and mechanisms which will sew lines of severed or unsevered tufting into the fabric.

Means are provided to reciprocate the beds and 27.. A. horizontal chain 121, Figures 1, 3, 6, 17 and 23, is attached to the vertical arm 39 at, the left end of the machine, Figure 17, and to the vertical arm 39 at the right end of the machine, and this chain is passed about horizontal sprocket wheels I22 and I23, Figures 5, 6, 12 and 23. The sprocket chain 12: extends to the right of the machine, Figures 2, '7, 8 and 18, and is passed about guide or idler sprocket wheel I24. This sprocket chain has its horizontal run arranged at the front of the machine near the work feed rollers $1 and 62. A rear chain 125, 5, 6, 7, 8, l l and 22, is attached to the opposite ends of the bed 27 in a similar manner described in connection with the chain 121. At the left end of the machine, the chain 125 passes over horizontal sprocket wheels 125 and 12?, Figures 6 and 22, and at the right end of the machine, this chain 525 passes over idler sprocket wheels 12S and I22, Figures 8 and 22, suitably mounted upon the frame of the machine.

As more clearly shown in Figures 5, 6, 11 and 12, the sprocket wheel I23 is an idler sprocket wheel while the sprocket wheel 122 is a drive sprocket wheel and is rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft 13%, extending into a gear box 131, rigidly mounted upon the frame of the machine. A plate I31 is rigidly secured to the gear box 131. Arranged within the gear box 131 is a horizontal shaft I32, journaled in bearings I33 and 135. This shaft carries spaced beveled gears I35 and 1.36, disposed upon opposite sides of a beveled Figures r 8 gear 13'! and arranged to alternately engage and disengage the beveled gear 131, but nottoengage the beveled gear 131 at the same time. The beveled gear 13! is rigidly mounted upon the upper end of the vertical shaft 130. The shaft 132 carries a grooved disc 138-, rigidly secured thereto, and this disc receives in its groove 13!)- a pin or finger I40, rigidly mounted upon a slide 14 I. I'his slide extends to the exterior of the gear box 131 and is provided with a horizontal lateral extension or arm I42, carrying a bolt 143, which is tapped into the arm'and is adjustable thereon and may be locked in the selected adjustedposition by nuts 1-44. The bolt 143 contacts with a plunger 145, which is separate from the bolt and is slidable in a guide or bearing 146. Arranged between the adjacent ends of the shaft 132. and the plunger 145 is a horizontaly swinging cam 14], having inclined faces I48 and 1 19, to contact with the shaft 132 and plunger 1-45 respectively,.Figure 11. It is thus apparent that the arrangement is such that when the cam 14'! is turned in opposite directions, the shaft I32 will be shifted longitudinally in opposite directions. The cam 141 is rigidly mounted upon a vertical shaft 155, Figure 12, and a horizontally swinging lever 15! is rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 1.50. A cable 552 is attached to the lever I 51 and extends about a guide pulley I53 and has a retractile coil spring i5 i connected therein, Figures 5, 6-, 11 and 23. The spring I5 1 is suitably attached to-the left end of the bed 25, Figure 23. The. lever 151 has a cable 955 attached thereto andthis cable is passed about the guide pulley 15-6. The cable 155 has a retractile coil spring 1511 connected therein and this spring is attached to. the run. of the endless sprocket chain 1.21, disposed upon the forward side of the bed plate 26.. It is thus seen that when the bed plate 26 moves to the right, Figure 23, the spring 154 is placed under tension while the spring 157 has its tension released or removed. When the bed 26 moves to the left, the spring 151i is placed under tension while the spring I54 is relieved of tension. These springs will ordinarily take up the slack in the cables. When the spring I5 1v is placed under tension, it tends to swing the lever 151 clockwise, Figures 6, 11 and 23, and when the spring 151 is placed under tension, it tends to swing the lever I51 counterclockwise, Figures 6, l1 and 23. Latch means, Figures 5, 6, 11 and 23, are provided to hold the lever 15! against swinging movement in either direction until the desired tension on the springs 154 and I5! is built up, which is determined by the movement of bed 26, after which the lever 15.1 is released and the spring under tension quickly throws the lever to the opposite direction. A horizontal plate E58,. Figures 19 to 21 inclusive, is rigidly secured to the plate 131 and has angularly disposed ends 1551, having keepers I50 rigidly secured thereto. These keepers are angularly arranged. The keepers include upper horizontal webs I51 and lower spaced horizontal webs 1.62 and 163. Webs I62 and 163 receive the lever 151 between them. The webs IGI and 153 have vertical openings formed therein and receive a vertical bolt I64 moved downwardly by a compressible coil spring 165. The lower end of the bolt has a beveled face 166. The beveled faces of the bolts face inwardly and such beveled faces are above the webs 162. The springs I55 bias the bolts I8 1 downwardly. The numeral 151, Figures 5, 6 and 23, designates a vertically swinging bell crank lever, mounted upon a fixed pivot 158, Figure 5, and provided at its upper free end with a horizontal lateral extension I 69, Figure 6, which is slotted so that it can engage beneath the head of the bolt I64, to the right, Figures and 6.

When the lever I61 is swung clockwise; Figure 5,

the corresponding bolt I64 is raised. A similar vertically swinging bell crank lever I is pivoted at I1 I, Figure 5, and is arranged to raise the bolt I64 to the left,'when the bell crank lever I10 is swung counter-clockwise, Figure5; The bell crank lever I61 has a cable I1I' secured to its lower end, Figure 5, and this cable is passed about a guide pulley I12 and is attached to the left end of the bed 26. There is a slack in the cable I1 I, indicated at I12, and a slight retractile coil spring I13 is connected across thisjslack. This spring is not sufliciently strong to swing thelever I61. When the bed 26 moves to the right from the starting position, Figure 23, the spring I54 is placed under tension and by the time the 'bed 26 approaches the end of its travel to the right and the spring I54 has been placed under tension to the fullest extent, the slack I12 in the cable is taken up and the further movement of the bed 26 to the right will cause the cable I1I' toswing the bell crank lever I61 clockwise, Figures "5 and 23, whereby the bolt I64 adjacent to the bell crank lever I61 is raised and this bolt will then releasethe lever I5I, Figure 23, which is quickly thrown clockwise, Figures 5, l1 and 23, by the tension of the spring I54. When the lever I5I is swung clockwise, it will enter the space between the webs I62 and I63, tothe left, Figures 5 and 19 to 20, and will thenengagebehind the bolt I64, and be held in'place'by this bolt. This movement of the lever I5I willshift the shaft I32, Figures 11 and 12, longitudinally, and the gear I35 willbe brought into engagement with the gear I31, while gear I36 disengagesgear I31 and the bed 26 will now have its direction of movementreversed and will travel to the left, Figure23. Thenumeral I14 designates a cable attached to the lower end of the bell crank lever I10 and this cable is passed about a guide pulley I15, and the cable is attached to the front run of the chain I2 I. This cable has a slack therein indicated at I14, and a slight retractile coil spring I is connected across this slack, but is not sufficiently strong to swing the lever I10. When the bed 26 is traveling to the left, Figure 23, spring I54 has its tension relieved and spring I51 is placed under tension. The cable I1 I is accumulating slack while the slack inthe cable I14 isbeing taken up. When the bed 26 approaches the end of its travel to the left, Figure 23, and after the spring I51 has been placed under suitable tension, the slack I14 is taken up and further movement of'the bed 26 to the left causes the cable I14 to bepulled and the bell crank lever I10 is swung counter-clockwise, Figure 5, and the bolt I64 is raised by this bell crank lever whereby the lever I5 I Figure 23, is released andthe spring I51 will quickly. throw. the lever I 5I .counterclockwise, Figures 5 and 23, to the position shown.

. At this position, the, lever I5I is held behind the bolt I64 to the right- .When the lever I5I1'is swung counter-clockwisev to the position shown. in Figure 11, shaft I32 is shiftedlongitudinally .in an op- The means which causes the sprocket chain I to travel in opposite directions is practically the 7 same as the means whichoperates the sprocket chain I2 I. The lever I 5 I 'correspondsto the lever I5 I. bell crank lever. I 61 "corresponds to the bell crank lever I61 and bell crank lever I10 corresponds to bell crank lever I10. The gear box I3I arranged at the rear and carrying the lever I5I', Figures 5, 13 and 14, has been inverted and turned around so that the drive shaft I extends above the gear box and the shaft I32, Figure 13, extends in an opposite direction to the shaft I32, Figure 11'. Since the gear box I3I, Figure 5, has been inverted, all parts carried thereby have been inverted and the bell crank levers I61 and I10 extend upwardly instead of downwardly. The

bolts I64 seat upwardly'and extend down below the Webs I61. When the inverted bell crank lever I16 is swung counter-clockwise, Figure 5, the adjacent bolt I 64 is moved downwardly and the lever I5 I,'Figures 5, 13 and 22, is released. The bell crank lever I 61, Figures 5 and 22, may be swung clockwise, Figure 5, and the adjacent bolt I64 is then moved downwardly to release the lever I5 I. The lever I5I is connected w th a cable I16, passed about aguidepulley I11 and a retractile coil spring I18 is connected therein. This cable I16 is connected with the rear run .of the chain I25. The lever I5I', Figure 22, is connected with a jcable I19 passed about a guide pulley I80 having a retractile coil spring I8I connected therein.

The cable I19 is connected with the left end of the bed 21.

The bell crank lever I61, Figures 5 and 22, has itsupper end connected with a cable I82. passed about a pulley I83, and this cable has a slack I83 therein, and a slight spring I84 is connected across this slack and this spring is too Weak to shift the bell crank lever. The cable I82 is connected with the left end of the bed 21, Figure 22. The bell crank lever I10 has a cable I84 connected therewith and this cable passes over a guide pulley I85 and has a slack I85 therein, and a slight retractile coil spring I86 is connected across this slack. The spring I86 is not sufficiently strong to shift the lever I10. The cable 184 is connected with the rear run of a sprocket fposite direction and gear, I36 brought into engage- 1 ing to the left, the gear I36, Figure 14, engages gear I31. The chain I25 has its front run traveling to the left and its rear run traveling to the right and the tension is being let out of the spring I8I while the tension is being built up in spring I18. The lever I5 I is now being held in the position shown in Figures 22, 5 and 13. The cable I64 is being pulled and the slack I in this cable is being taken up and when the bed 21 approaches the end of its travel to the left, Figure 22, the cable I84 will swing the bell crank lever I10 counter-clockwise, Figure 5, and the lever I5I' will be released and will then snap over to the rear position, Figures 13 and 22. The shaft I32, Figure 13, is now shifted to the left and the gear I35 will engage the gear I31 and the direction of travel of the chain I25 is reversed and bed 21 moves to the right, Figure 22. The chain I25 now travels to let out the tension in the spring I13 and to build up tension in the spring I8I. The slack is restored in the cable I84 and is taken up in the cable I82. When the bed 21 approaches the end of its travel to the right, all slack is taken up in the cable I82 and the cable I82 will swing the bell crank lever I61 clockwise, Figures 5 and 22, and the bolt I64 will be lowered and the lever I5 I released and the spring I8! will vquickly throw the lever I5I to the forward position, Figures 5 and 22, and the cycle of operation is repeated.

, The sprocket wheel I21 is rigidly mounted upon the upstanding shaft I 30, Figure 14, and the sprocket wheel I22 is rigidly mountedupon the shaft I30, Figure 12. The shafts I32, Figure 6, 

